Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-25
THANKS AND TURKEY.
How Rock Island Spent the Day of
Gratitude.
Unpleasant Weather. but Happy
Occasion Nevertheless--FamiI Re.
unions and Public Amusements.
THANKSGIVING DAY.

lhhNhStlNiNd DAY.
Old Father Time cut wet notch in his
endless calendar stick yesterday It isn't
dry yet. But it was happy day, for ev-
ervbody was thankful-the children were
thankful because there was no school.
Some of their mothers, aunts and sisters
were even thankful because the weather
was disagreeable. 1t kept their fathers,
husbands, brothers and sons at home.
There was not much excuse for crossing
the home threshold yesterday. They
couldn't plead business nor did they wish
to. 1t was much pleasanter to lounge
around the glowing hearth and let the
proud turkey digest, than to "go down
town and see a man" But while the
moist atmosphere is sometimes cause
for rejoicing, it is likewise q cause for
regret-hundreds of nice new bonnets,
sacks and gowns that expected to make
their debut on that day of devastation
were disappointed. What Easter is to
sweet smiling spring, Thanksgiving is to
snowy, slushy fall. 1t takes more than
rain to keep a Rock Island christian from
church, but that's enough to keep her
choice costume at home
Although that little god is not given
the credit, Cupid may rightly be termed
as one of the originatOrs of THANKSGIVING.
II there is any time when bachelor
wishes he was benedict, it's on Thanks
giving. Let him turn where he will,
before him is the beautiful scene of a
happy father seated at the head of table
laden with good things, proud mother
occupying the foot, while at each side of
them are clustered bright, merry, Laughs
ing, lovely olive branches, from the wee
tow headed fodder to the handsome hob.
bleGehoy. Then bachelor realizes what
he has missed; and if he doesen't care to
make amends before next Thanksgiving,
that man deserves to live life OF single
cussedness.
Yes, everybody was thankful. The
thousands of turkeys that yielded up theil
innocent lives that Rock Island might
have Thanksgiving. were the only suffer,
ers. Turkey and Thanksgiving are
| Synonymous terms in the American mind
and feast without the gobbling poultry
monarch would be as lameGtable a,
| Christmas without Kris kringle, New
Years without callers, or the Fourth o
July without fireworks.
The last Thursday 10 November is tur
key day, and from the Pine State t.
Golden Gate, from Alaska to Key West
and from the Gulf to the Great Lakes tn
gobbler of yesterday becomes the gobbleC
of today 1t is also the day when Mo
hammedan and Confucian, Jew and Gen
tile, Roman. Greek and protestant tn
deist and atheist, tine inidel and agnostic
the high and low, rich and poor, tn
scholar and ignoramus, the grave an
gay, the young and the old. til
petted child and the orphan boy
and even the prisoner in his cell joi
with one accord to eat turkey and rende
thanks tor the blessings that have bee
and will be. Open, handed charity got
out to the poor and lowly, to the sick an
the sorrowing, but hospitality is reserve
for kith and kin-the near one and ii
dear one being the only really WELDON
guest This is what makes Thsnksglvin
a happy day to everybody.
The morning was devoted mainly to
RELIGIOUS oBsERvANcEs.
The Catholic charches held early NOR
ing mass. At Trinity there were servic,
both morning and evening, with sermon
on each occasion by Rev. R. F. Swee
The other protestant denominations
pastors and congregations-united
praise and thanksgiving at the First !
E. church. Rev. G. W. Cue preacht
the sermon. His subject was Nation
Thanksgiving The text was fro
Psalms, 33:12:
Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lo
and The people whom He hath chosen for His o,
| inheritance.
There is no principle more importa
to the prosperity of nation, Mr.. G
said, than a practical Acknowledgment
: of the truths that the Most High rule
among the nations of the earth. Ii
indeed q cheering indication when q
rulers acknowledge the providence
God by appointing day of pub
thanksgiving, and that SO many peoI
throughout the nation respond to the C
by assembling in their places of worsI
to thank God for his Astounding go
ness. There were some particu
reasons why we should on this day OF
thanks to Heaven, aside from the perso
and family benedictions. First. As
is national thanksgiving, thanks sho
be returned for this great and free rep
: lie, tie freest people on earth. Furth
we should be thankful that this natiol
the asylum for the oppressed of all lar
We should be thankful that We ar
light unto all nations of the earth.
should be thankful for the blessings
free press and free speech.
should be thankful for our national pl
perity. We should be thankful for
public schools, where patriotism and
of country, and the principles Of mora
which is the bible-are taught. WI
patriotism that will protect our liberl
is taught, the church and bible will
care of themselves.
RECREATION.
Recreation and refreshment of CO
= contributed to the pleasure and prof
yesterday. The early part of the a
noon was spent abo ut the
ily dinner table, and in
tain quarters. it is needless to
there was joy over the one fact a
thot tho uar betveau turkey and o.